Almost everything revolves around one main road running east/west. The buddhas are on the cliff face to the north.

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Almost everything revolves around one main road running east/west. The buddhas are on the cliff face to the north.

==Get in==

==Get in==

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The ISAF contingent's (New Zealand) Hercules transport aircraft resupply the base there. Whilst it is very unlikely that they'll allow passengers it does provide a dramatic photo opportunity. The same goes when VIPs visit and bring along Apache/Cobra attack helicopters for protection.

The ISAF contingent's (New Zealand) Hercules transport aircraft resupply the base there. Whilst it is very unlikely that they'll allow passengers it does provide a dramatic photo opportunity. The same goes when VIPs visit and bring along Apache/Cobra attack helicopters for protection.

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Closest to regular air services to Bamiyan come the humanitarian flights of PACTEC [http://www.pactec.org/afghan.htm].

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Closest to regular air services to Bamiyan come the humanitarian flights of PACTEC [http://www.pactec.org/afghan.htm]. To use them you must have the sponsorship of an NGO they do business with. This may not be difficult and is worth a shot. In 6-'10 prices Kabul-Bamiyan were about $120 one way.

==Get around==

==Get around==

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Bamiyan town is small and walking is the best option. Around the region you can hire Toyota minivans for day trips from the stand in front of Mama Najaf's Restaurant.

+

Bamiyan town is small and walking is the best option. Around the region you can hire Toyota minivans for day trips from the stand in front of Mama Najaf's Restaurant. Also, along the road in front of the large Buddha is the tourist office (in a pink building on the south side of the road) and you can hire a guide. The guide is well worth it for the money.

The Roof of Bamiyan hotel also has vehicles for rent.

The Roof of Bamiyan hotel also has vehicles for rent.

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===Mid-range===

===Mid-range===

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*'''Zuhak Hotel''', towards the eastern end of the main street, is a popular place and has the cheapest rooms. Shared bathrooms have hot bucket of water in the evenings. The restaurant is currently closed. Double rooms are $ 20/1 000 afn, triples are $ 30/1500 afn.

+

*'''Zuhak Hotel''', towards the eastern end of the main street, is a popular place and has the cheapest rooms. Shared bathrooms have hot bucket of water in the evenings. The restaurant is currently closed. Double rooms are $ 20/1 000 afn, triples are $ 30/1500 afn. This Zohak hotel is filthy but only cost Afs500 (aobut $10/night for a single. Never saw any hot water. Meals are $2 each.

* <sleep name="The Roof of Bamiyan Hotel" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="+93 7992-35298 / +93 7923-5293" url="" checkin="" checkout="" price="Yurts on the roof are $40/2000Af, rooms are $40-60/2000-3000Af" lat="N 34° 49’ 13.94”" long="E 67° 49’ 22.69”" email="" fax="">Sits above the town to the south-west and offers fantastic views over the Bamiyan valley. Good if you have your own transport, otherwise it's a long walk up the hill. The manager, an Afghan veteran of the hippie trail, can organize reliable vehicle hire and the like. Popular with NGO workers and journalists.</sleep>

* <sleep name="The Roof of Bamiyan Hotel" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="+93 7992-35298 / +93 7923-5293" url="" checkin="" checkout="" price="Yurts on the roof are $40/2000Af, rooms are $40-60/2000-3000Af" lat="N 34° 49’ 13.94”" long="E 67° 49’ 22.69”" email="" fax="">Sits above the town to the south-west and offers fantastic views over the Bamiyan valley. Good if you have your own transport, otherwise it's a long walk up the hill. The manager, an Afghan veteran of the hippie trail, can organize reliable vehicle hire and the like. Popular with NGO workers and journalists.</sleep>

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==Contact==

==Contact==

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* '''Bamiyan Business Center''', east of Zuhak Hotel and across Kabul City Bank, is the only internet cafe in Bamiyan. 90Afs/hour.

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* '''Bamiyan Business Center''', east of Zuhak Hotel and across Kabul City Bank, is the only internet cafe in Bamiyan. 90Afs/hour. In May of '10, this was not working.

* Mobile phone service providers with reception in Bamiyan city are Roshan and Areeba. Areeba has the better coverage around Bamiyan Province.

* Mobile phone service providers with reception in Bamiyan city are Roshan and Areeba. Areeba has the better coverage around Bamiyan Province.

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* [[Band-e Amir]] &ndash; one of the most stunningly beautiful natural sights in the whole country, these turquoise lakes are definitely worth the effort. Day trips are popular, but if you have the time and don't mind roughing it, an overnight stay affords the best experience. A private hire minivan should run around 2-3000Afs depending on bargaining skills, and takes about 3 hours.

* [[Band-e Amir]] &ndash; one of the most stunningly beautiful natural sights in the whole country, these turquoise lakes are definitely worth the effort. Day trips are popular, but if you have the time and don't mind roughing it, an overnight stay affords the best experience. A private hire minivan should run around 2-3000Afs depending on bargaining skills, and takes about 3 hours.

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* '''Shahr-e Zohak''' is a fort some 20 kilometers back towards Kabul that requires a jeep to get to.

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* '''Shahr-e Zohak''' is a fort some 20 kilometers back towards Kabul that requires a jeep to get to. It's a ruined city at the top of cliffs. Your guide from the Buddhist site can also guide you here. Very interesting and great views from the top. We drove to a place where we crossed through some fields and then walked the path through the guard towers to the top. It did not require a jeep. Perhaps there is another way where you can drive closer that does, I don't know. En-route from Bamiyan there are also guard towers that are UNESCO world heritage sites.

Revision as of 16:16, 17 July 2010

Contents

Understand

Bamiyan is one of the main tourist attractions in Afghanistan, largely due to the giant destroyed Buddha statues. It's also one of the most picturesque regions in the country.

It lies at an altitude of around 2 500 m and is cooler than Kabul.

Almost everything revolves around one main road running east/west. The buddhas are on the cliff face to the north.

Get in

An overview of Bamiyan, with the small Buddha visible in the background

By road

From Kabul there are two very rough dirt roads to Bamiyan, the southern route through Wardak Province and across Hajigak Pass being shorter, more dangerous and more frequently used by public transport. It's advisable to try to blend in on this route for the first hour or so out of Kabul - using a scarf as the Afghans do to cover your head, nose and mouth keeps the dust out and helps to lower your profile. Toyota 4WD shared minivans seating 5-10 passengers leave Kabul starting at 4 am daily and cost 400 afghanis (you may have to and should bargain hard for this price), and take around 9 hours.

The northern route starts from the road heading north from Kabul, near Charikar. For an hour and a half on good tarmac road. From Charikar it goes through Parwan Province, passing Ghorband towards Shibar Pass (some 2 900 m) on a recently (2007) refurbished gravel road. Total travelling time some 8 hours. Several check-posts require a local guide.

From Herat it is a very long and hard multi-part journey via the minaret of Jam, taking at least 3 days in Toyota minivans. Enquire in Herat about the current safety situation.

From Mazar-e Sharif the old route to Kabul runs through Bamiyan. The recently improved gravel road within Bamyan Province (from Du-Ab) makes it much faster, though still some bottlenecks exist.

When you're ready to make an exit, minivans depart from Mama Najaf's restaurant daily for Kabul (9 hours, 400 afn). Inquire here for any other destinations you may have in mind, if there's not something heading there you can arrange a private hire minivan.

By air

No commercial air service runs to Bamiyan, but some NGO's and military run flights for their own purposes. You could try contacting an NGO if you're intent on flying, but don't count on success.

The Red Cross (ICRC) runs flights for its personnel only. The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) has regular flights available for UN and NGO staff, humanitarian workers and journalists.

The ISAF contingent's (New Zealand) Hercules transport aircraft resupply the base there. Whilst it is very unlikely that they'll allow passengers it does provide a dramatic photo opportunity. The same goes when VIPs visit and bring along Apache/Cobra attack helicopters for protection.

Closest to regular air services to Bamiyan come the humanitarian flights of PACTEC [1]. To use them you must have the sponsorship of an NGO they do business with. This may not be difficult and is worth a shot. In 6-'10 prices Kabul-Bamiyan were about $120 one way.

Get around

Bamiyan town is small and walking is the best option. Around the region you can hire Toyota minivans for day trips from the stand in front of Mama Najaf's Restaurant. Also, along the road in front of the large Buddha is the tourist office (in a pink building on the south side of the road) and you can hire a guide. The guide is well worth it for the money.

The Roof of Bamiyan hotel also has vehicles for rent.

See

Destroyed Bamiyan Buddha

Caves

The ruined Buddhas are the main reason that most people visit Bamiyan. Created in the 6bth century, they long were the largest in the world and a pilgrimage site for Buddhists. Over the centuries they were damaged by various invaders, and in 2001 the Taliban declared them 'un-islamic', rolled in tanks and destroyed them completely. All that remains are the 'footprints'.

The area around the buddhas and to the west is interesting to walk around (stay on well-used paths). Many of the buildings were destroyed in war and there are occasional leftover weapons and destroyed jeeps, one of which is now used as a bridge over a stream.

Caves are abundant throughout the mountainside, many of them used as residences. It's best to observe from a distance, out of respect for the residents and for you safety.

Shahr-e Gholghola is a fort high above the town that gives some of the best views of the entire valley.

Eat

Several chaikhanas provide staple Afghani food such as pulao (rice with seasonal vegetable and mutton), naan and plenty of green tea. Alternatively have some kebab with fresh yoghurt from sheep's milk.

For finer dining, try contacting the Hotel Silk Road Bamiyan (+93 798-405486, see below) and reserve a table for dinner. Whatever type of cuisine they may serve that day, it's bound to be good.

Sleep

Budget

The only really cheap option for travelers is to stay in one of several chaikhanas, where your meal (~60 afn) includes a space on the floor for the night. Most don't have toilets or showers, so take advantage of the hammam near the Zuhak Hotel.

Mama Najafs Restaurant is probably the most popular of the chaikhanas, as this is where the minivans arrive to and depart from.

Mid-range

Zuhak Hotel, towards the eastern end of the main street, is a popular place and has the cheapest rooms. Shared bathrooms have hot bucket of water in the evenings. The restaurant is currently closed. Double rooms are $ 20/1 000 afn, triples are $ 30/1500 afn. This Zohak hotel is filthy but only cost Afs500 (aobut $10/night for a single. Never saw any hot water. Meals are $2 each.

The Roof of Bamiyan Hotel, ☎+93 7992-35298 / +93 7923-5293. Sits above the town to the south-west and offers fantastic views over the Bamiyan valley. Good if you have your own transport, otherwise it's a long walk up the hill. The manager, an Afghan veteran of the hippie trail, can organize reliable vehicle hire and the like. Popular with NGO workers and journalists.Yurts on the roof are $40/2000Af, rooms are $40-60/2000-3000Af. (N 34° 49’ 13.94”,E 67° 49’ 22.69”)

Splurge

Hotel Silk Road Bamiyan, ☎+93 798-405486 (mail@silkroadbamiyan.com), [2]. The most upscale accommodation in the region, rooms are spotless and comfortable, and the meals are excellent. Dinner costs $12 per head and is worth every penny. Wireless internet is available for $5/day in your room, in the mornings and evenings when the power is on.US$100 for a double, includes breakfast.

Contact

Bamiyan Business Center, east of Zuhak Hotel and across Kabul City Bank, is the only internet cafe in Bamiyan. 90Afs/hour. In May of '10, this was not working.

Mobile phone service providers with reception in Bamiyan city are Roshan and Areeba. Areeba has the better coverage around Bamiyan Province.

Stay safe

Bamiyan is regarded as one of the safer destinations in Afghanistan. It's remoteness and the largely Hazara population have kept it distant from most of the action.

The southern route to Kabul is considered dangerous for the hour or so stretch just out of Kabul where it travels through several villages. Most public transport takes this route, so keep a low profile in those areas and cover your head with a scarf as the Afghans do.

There are many landmines and unexploded ordinances (UXO) in Bamiyan despite a continued presence by ISAF. Stay on well used paths and steer well clear of red-painted rocks. White-painted rocks indicate paths that have been cleared of mines.

Get out

Shar-e Zohak

Band-e Amir – one of the most stunningly beautiful natural sights in the whole country, these turquoise lakes are definitely worth the effort. Day trips are popular, but if you have the time and don't mind roughing it, an overnight stay affords the best experience. A private hire minivan should run around 2-3000Afs depending on bargaining skills, and takes about 3 hours.

Shahr-e Zohak is a fort some 20 kilometers back towards Kabul that requires a jeep to get to. It's a ruined city at the top of cliffs. Your guide from the Buddhist site can also guide you here. Very interesting and great views from the top. We drove to a place where we crossed through some fields and then walked the path through the guard towers to the top. It did not require a jeep. Perhaps there is another way where you can drive closer that does, I don't know. En-route from Bamiyan there are also guard towers that are UNESCO world heritage sites.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!